Puffin License Plate Preorder - Oregon Coast Aquarium

A puffin license plate is landing in Oregon

The puffin plate arrives on March 31, 2027.

Thank you to everyone that helped us reach the 3,000 voucher preorder goal!

The DMV reached out in early September 2026 to confirm that beginning March 31, the puffin plate will be available at every DMV office.

This means starting March 31, 2027, those of you who purchased a voucher will be able to redeem your voucher at any local DMV office to pick up a plate. In fact, anyone after March 31, 2027, will be able to pick up a puffin plate at the DMV!

Frequently Asked Questions

I didn't preorder the puffin plate, does that mean I don’t get one?

If you don’t have a preorder voucher, fear not, beginning March 31, 2027, you can apply online at DMV2U, at an Oregon DMV Field Office, by mail, or through an Oregon dealer when you purchase a vehicle.

I have not received my voucher yet. Should I be worried?

We have printed all the vouchers and have them all sitting safely at Oregon Coast Aquarium. We will hold onto your vouchers until we are closer to production to keep them safe. With previous plates, some vouchers were misplaced by the owner causing a lot of unnecessary back-and-forth between the specialty plate team and the voucher holder. Given the plates will be delivered on March 31, we will be mailing these out starting mid-January. If you do not receive your voucher by February 15, please contact puffinplate@aquarium.org.

When your voucher arrives, keep it somewhere safe. It is the only official copy, and you need it to pick up your plate.

I bought a voucher, but I am moving out of state unexpectedly. Can I get a refund?

Unfortunately, no. We have transferred funds from the pre-sale to DMV already. But you can certainly transfer or gift a voucher to someone else. If you cannot wait until March please contact us to work out the next steps.

How do I give the voucher as a gift?

To give the puffin plate voucher as a gift, sign as Purchaser and complete the bottom “Transfer of Voucher” section in the name of the person receiving the gift. Be sure that you also sign as Transferor in this section.

I lost my voucher; can it be replaced?

If your voucher is lost, stolen, or damaged, contact us at puffinplate@aquarium.org for replacement.

Eeek! The plates won’t be available until March 31! But my registration expires before March 31. What do I do?

No problem. Your vehicle registration and your puffin plate are two different things.

Renew your current plates with DMV and once the plate is available you can apply to replace it with a puffin plate. You won’t have to pay registration fees again.

I want a custom plate (e.g., OCA-PFN, PUFFIN, etc). How do I get one?

This is totally possible! You won’t, however, be able to apply for a custom configuration for a puffin plate until they are produced.

In the meantime, you could apply for a custom configuration for another plate in production and transfer it to the puffin plate when it is available. You will pay an additional fee for customization. Apply online at DMV2U or complete DMV forms 205 and 268 and submit them to DMV with the appropriate fees.

Can I transfer my current custom plate configuration to a puffin plate?

Yes! You can keep your custom configuration and move it to a puffin plate for an additional fee.

I want a specific number on my plate. How do I do that?

We are unable to pre-assign plate numbers. When you get a plate from DMV you will be issued the next number in their inventory.

Can I get one for my motorcycle, motorhome or travel trailer?

No, only passenger vehicles are eligible for these plates.

I do not have a vehicle registered in Oregon. Can I get a souvenir or sample plate?

No, souvenir and sample puffin plates are not available.

How much does the puffin plate cost?

In addition to regular title, registration, and plate fees, the specialty puffin plate has a $40 surcharge due when you first order the plate and at each registration renewal. The surcharge is the same amount for four-year or two-year registration periods. Additionally, you will need to pay a one-time plate fee and plate replacement fee.

More information on DMV fees is available on DMVs website.

Hooray! Our

voucher goal has been met!

A new license plate is landing in Oregon!

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is one of three facilities in the Pacific Northwest, and the only in the state of Oregon, authorized to provide critical care to endangered marine animals like sea turtles, snowy plovers and Guadalupe fur seals. With the purchase of a puffin plate, you help support the Aquarium’s wildlife rehabilitation and animal care.

Why a tufted puffin?

The tufted puffin is one of Oregon’s most iconic species, beloved by coastal locals and travelers alike. They can be seen in the Aquarium’s Seabird Aviary, or through the spring and summer at their famous nesting site at Haystack Rock. While adored, these birds have declined significantly in Oregon over the last few decades, and we want to raise awareness around these incredible birds!

Helping marine wildlife recover

A hypothermic female olive ridley sea turtle stranded on a remote southern Washington beach. An endangered Western snowy plover chick abandoned in its nest, covered in sand and not even fully hatched. A northern fur seal pup entangled by a plastic balloon string in a RV parking lot. These are just three examples of injured wildlife that arrived at the Oregon Coast Aquarium for care.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Program rescues and rehabilitates threatened and endangered animals as well as indigenous wildlife deemed injured by human interference.

Aid & assistance

The Aquarium receives hundreds of reports of entangled and injured wildlife each year. The Aquarium partners with wildlife rehabilitation centers along the coast to promote injured animals’ long term care and chances of successful release, and is currently building its own Marine Wildlife Center to expand its capacity for wildlife rehabilitation & animal care.